Congratulations to the Wellington Saints!!! 2010 NBL Champs!!!

Exodus Wellington Saints shut out an
unlikely last-minute Waikato Pistons comeback to secure
their first national basketball title since 2003 with an 82-79 win.

Saints had levelled the best-of-three National Basketball League
series yesterday in Wellington with a dominant 98-69 win after a
lack-lustre effort in Hamilton the previous night saw the two-time
defending champion Pistons out-play Wellington 80-74.

After a sluggish first half tonight, Saints eased away in the last
quarter and were cruising home in the final minute of play. But a
10-point lead suddenly disappeared on the back of three Hayden
Allen three-pointers in the closing 30 seconds.

With the Pistons on shooting fouls, Saints’ accuracy from the
free-throw line was suddenly all that was keeping the game in their
grasp.

In front by only three, and with just 13 seconds remaining, the
Saints premature celebrations ground to a halt.

Former Waikato guard Eric Devendorf came to the
rescue, sinking two from the free-throw line for Wellington to steady
the ship and secure Saints the win.

A hard-fought game saw both teams fouling high, as Saints battled to
turn around a slow start that had them trailing by 10 points midway
through the first quarter.

Waikato captain and former Australian international Tony
Ronaldson signalled his team’s intentions in opening the
scoring with a three-pointer.

Tom Abercrombie, who posted a game-high 32 in the
first match only to be shut down yesterday to 14, got involved early
tonight and ended a sterling night’s work with 29 points. His first
three-pointer fell after barely two minutes, and gave the Pistons an 8-0
lead.

Point guard Lindsay Tait kick-started the Saints
game soon after, scything through the Pistons defence and setting the
tone for a game which saw him dominate for 28 en route to winning the
finals Most Valuable Player.

“This has been a long time for us,” Tait told Sky Sport afterwards.
“We’ve been close the last couple of years, but to come back this year
win it — it’s awesome.”

Things didn’t look too good for the Saints early on, as a
focused-looking Pistons defence had them locked down and Abercrombie,
given too much time was relishing the open shot as Waikato went into the
first break leading 28-23.

Tait again was hugely effective for the Saints, orchestrating their
fast-running game and driving well to the hoop. Waikato coach Dean
Vickerman deputised Abercrombie to try and keep him in line,
but Tait proved unstoppable and Saints edged closer to trail 41-44 at
halftime.

Devendorf, who top-scored yesterday, tweaked his ankle in the second
quarter, but was back on court as the third quarter began and the Saints
settled into the business of reeling in the Waikato lead.

They hit the front with three minutes of the third stanza gone, Nick
Horvath driving to the basket and drawing the foul on Alex
Pledger — his fourth of the game. Ahead 62-55 at the end of
the third quarter, Wellington stepped up a gear in the final 10 minutes.

They moved the ball with speed and precision, swinging the ball round
the keyhole as the final quarter closed down and Waikato were left
scrambling for possession.

It was left to Allen to reignite — albeit briefly — the visitors’
hopes with a treble of three-points in the space of 15 seconds.

This is championship number six for the Saints who have won the title
in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2003 and 2010.

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